218 SHAKESPEARE’S [ OATS. 
in such moist places, the more hard they be. And so for 
hard and durable matter and kind of such tree, misbelieved 
men made thereof images, and maumets [Mahomets] of 
false gods. Bartholomew (Berthelet), bk. xvii. § 84. 
Tue Oak-apples, being broken in sunder about the time 
of their withering,’ do foreshew the sequel of the year, as 
the expert Kentish husbandmen have observed, by the living 
things found in them; as if they find an ant, they foretell 
plenty of grain to ensue—if a spider, then (say they) we 
shall have a pestilence or some such like sickness to follow 
amongst men—if a white worm like a gentle or maggot, 
then they prognosticate murrain of beasts and cattle. These 
things the learned also have observed and noted. 
Gerara’s “ Herbal,” s.v. 
[So Lupton, bk. iii. § 7: “If [the little worm in the oak- 
apple] doth fly away, it signifies wars; if it creep, it betokens 
scarceness of corn; if it turn about, then it foreshews the 
plague. This is the countryman’s astrology, which they have 
long observed for truth.’’] 
V. Gall. 
Oats. 
TreMpPEsT, iv. I, 61. 
Oats are used in many countries to make sundry sorts 
of bread, as in Lancashire, where it is their chiefest bread- 
corn for Jannocks [Oat-cakes], Haver-cakes, Tharf-cakes 
[Oat-cakes, unleavened], and those which are called generally 
Oaten-cakes; and for the most part they call the grain 
Haver, whereof they do likewise make drink for want of 
‘barley. Oatmeal is good for to make a fair and well- 
coloured maid to look like a cake of tallow, especially if 
she take next her stomach a good draught of strong vinegar 
after it. Gerard’s “ Herbal,” s.v. 
Oil. 
Oi is the juice of herbs of olive, and the more fresh 
it is, the more noble it is, and the more slyly it cometh 
out of the hulls, the better it is and the more noble. If 
a man be under water with Oil in his mouth and spouteth 
